Join us for National 4-H Conference!
The 2026 National 4-H Conference will take place April 10-15 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Virginia.
Bringing hundreds of 4-H’ers to the nation’s capital each spring, the National 4-H Conference is the flagship youth development opportunity of USDA, hosted by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). By providing opportunities for young people between the ages of 15 and 19 to share their voices with the federal government, this nationally recognized event is developing the next generation of leaders.
Experience unparalleled discovery, learning, professional development, and networking with 4-H’ers from around the world. During the Conference, delegates will become familiar with the government and share their voice with federal agencies and congressional committees with the goal of impacting change in America.
How it Works
There are many ways young people, as well as federal partners and Land-grant Universities, can benefit from participating in National 4-H Conference.
- Federal Partners play a key role by presenting an issue of importance on which they would like to receive youth perspective. Federal partners provide young people an opportunity to see firsthand how they can influence government decision making.
- Land-grant Colleges and Universities are invited to select and send high school-aged 4-H participants, along with chaperones, to National 4-H Conference. Each is encouraged to partner within their state to select a delegation based on age, background, geographic distribution and/or experience with 4-H.
- Youth Participants choose the topic, research the issue, work with their peers to develop a 45-minute briefing and formally present their recommendations to the federal partner. They can also apply to serve in various leadership roles at National 4-H Conference.
- Exploration and Discovery: Youth participants gain valuable skills and knowledge about citizenship, leadership, and agricultural prosperity by participating in novel learning activities.
Impact
In preparation for, during and after National 4-H Conference, youth participants learn, practice, and apply new skills and use their voices, talent and ideas to make a difference. They are empowered to generalize what is learned to affect change in their own community. Those who participate in National 4-H Conference report increased leadership, civic engagement, agency, and social and cultural competence.
Registration for the 2026 National 4-H Conference opens on February 2, 2026! Land-grant Universities and other travel groups may register their delegation through the online registration system. Registration will close on February 23, 2026, 11:59pm Eastern Time.
Download the Registration Form ahead of time to collect needed information before registering your delegation online.
All registered adult chaperones must attend an online chaperone orientation on March 18, 2026, 4:00pm Eastern Time. Staff and volunteers selected to serve as roundtable coordinators must also attend a roundtable coordinator orientation on March 12, 2026, 4:00pm Eastern Time.
Through a peer leadership model, the National 4-H Conference offers opportunities for youth to learn, practice and apply civic engagement skills through roundtable discussions, federal agency briefings and more.
These unique and engaging experiences would not be possible without the Youth Leadership Team, Collegiate Facilitators and Adult Advisors who provide leadership to conference activities and events.
- The Youth Leadership Team (YLT) is made up of six high school students and two adult advisors. They are assembled to provide youth voice in conference planning and implementation.
- The Collegiate Facilitator Team is made up of 24 college students and two adult advisors. This group is assembled to host and facilitate youth roundtable groups.
Youth delegates and adult chaperones must read the National 4-H Conference Delegate Handbook. The Handbook helps delegates and adult chaperones prepare for and know what to expect at National 4-H Conference. The handbook is full of information and helpful tips about the nation’s capitol, the Conference hotel, what to pack, schedule of events, challenge questions and much more.
Adult chaperones must review the National 4-H Conference Guidebook for 1862, 1890 and 1994 Staff and Volunteers and Other Travel Groups. The Guidebook was developed by USDA NIFA to help adult chaperones and volunteers understand their role in Conference.
National 4-H Conference is administered by USDA NIFA in cooperation with S. Stewart and Associates, Inc. who handles registration, payment policies, hotel reservations, cancelation penalty deadlines, transportation, and other logistics. For questions contact National4-HConference@usda.gov.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Maurice Smith, National Program Leader, at Maurice.Smith2@usda.gov no later than March 6.
Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to limited English proficient individuals upon request. If you need interpretation or translation services, please visit NIFA language services or contact Gabriel De Zayas Rodriguez, Equal Opportunity Specialist, at Gabriel.DeZayasrodriguez@usda.gov no later than March 6.
Resources and Information Session
Join us for the National 4-H Conference! The 2026 National 4-H Conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Virginia on April 10-15, 2026. Forms and resources for youth delegates, adult chaperones, leadership positions, Land-grant Universities and other travel...
Miss the Information Session? View the recording! The session shares details about the 2026 National 4-H Conference, including a preliminary look at the agenda, registration process, costs, and more.
View Frequently Asked Questions about National 4-H Conference! Learn registration dates, event details, conference activities, delegation size requirements, reasonable accommodation processes, and additional information.